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Red Bull X-Alps 2013: Maurer's appointment with Monaco

Monaco beckons! In less than a week since setting off from the Austrian city of Salzburg, Christian Maurer (SUI1), a 30-year-old athlete from Switzerland, is approaching the final leg to Monaco and could arrive as early as Sunday.

Planetmountain

July 2013

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Swiss paraglider Cristian Maurer during the Red Bull X-Alps 2013

Felix Woelk/Red Bull Content Pool

Predictions varied but according to the race committee, the Swiss flying maestro, barring any disasters, could reach the final turnpoint of Peille, which sits just above Monaco, as early as Sunday afternoon.

For the last week Maurer's flying display, which has seen him cover 800km in six days, has captivated the thousands of fans who are following the race on Live Tracking. His lightning progress has even stunned the paragliding community — not to mention his nearest competitors who have been left almost 200km behind him. And they include some of the world's top adventure flyers, including the current paragliding world champion.

“He's the perfect athlete,” says Hannes Arch, race mastermind. “He has the perfect team, he's perfectly prepared and he makes no mistakes. That's what makes him fast.”

Maurer has also enjoyed some pretty perfect weather conditions, including an easterly wind at the start and good thermals. On Friday July 12, the sixth day of the Red Bull X-Alps, Maurer had covered almost another 100km by late afternoon.

Meanwhile, the battle for second place remains as heated as ever with Britain's Jon Chambers (GBR) duking it out against Frenchmen Clement Latour (FRA1) and Antoine Girard (FRA2). Not far behind lay Martin Muller (SUI2), the Swiss clockmaker.

In a bid to move up the rankings Aaron Durogati (ITA1) pulled a Night Pass on Friday. He fell back after making a bad move Thursday and is hoping to be able to claw back some ground overnight.

Will Maurer make Monaco on Saturday? Who will win the battle for 2nd place? For what happens next in the drama, go to Red Bull Mobile Live Tracking, which lets you follow the athletes in real time on redbullxalps.com

RED BULL X-ALPS 2013
11/07/2013 - Red Bull X-Alps 2013: Christian Maurer sails into the lead
09/07/2013 - Red Bull X-Alps: Swiss machine storms ahead
07/07/2013 - Perfect start to the 2013 Red Bull X-Alps
05/07/2013 - Red Bull X-Alps 2013: Sunday start!
02/07/2013 - Red Bull X-ALPS: the countdown starts, adrenaline rises
28/06/2013 - Red Bull X-Alps 2013 and the Italian athletes: Andy Frötscher
12/06/2013 - Red Bull X-Alps 2013 and the Italian athletes: Aaron Durogati
05/06/2013 - Red Bull X-Alps 2013: July take off!

Follow the race on www.redbullxalps.com, Facebook and Twitter